Fans Come Alive in Defense of ‘Joe Black’

I strongly disagree with Kenneth Turan’s review of “Meet Joe Black” (“Dead Man Goes a-Courtin,’ ” Nov. 13). I am so glad I didn’t read the review before I saw the movie because I might have missed a terrific movie experience.

I am an avid movie buff and fan and see many movies. I consider this one of the best movies I have seen this year. It far exceeded my expectations. It was humorous, warm, insightful, charming, magical and thoroughly entertaining.

PATRICIA G. CONNELLY

Bellflower

*

“Meet Joe Black” is about awakening and savoring. Brad Pitt, relinquishing his appealing, rakish behavior, is not personality deficient, as Mr. Turan called him. He portrays extremely well the spacious, almost abstract vast nothingness death represents to us and the childlike discovery of the small and not-so-small pleasures which life offers.

My hat’s off to Mr. Brest, the director, who can carefully paint with his camera--against the backdrop of death’s stark presence--the vibrant colors of a life so rich in the living that it can pass on, lighthearted, into that good night. I loved the film.

YUDIT ECSEDY

Ojai